I've been using the BlackBerry Passport since launch, and it's been really great to be back on familiar turf. The Samsung Galaxy S5 I've been using for the last six months or so feels cheap and plasticky by comparison. Unorthodox as the Passport may be, it's great to have a physical keyboard under my thumbs again. OS 10.3 is a refreshing visual overhaul and there are a handful of functional updates.

One of the most visible changes are the new triage icons available in the Hub, which allows for easy folder filing and deletion of messages. Being able to do this right after reading a message or plowing through the entire list are both nice options to have, but there's still a fundamental bit missing from my usual e-mail workflow. Anybody who used BlackBerry prior to OS 10 will be familiar with how the U key functioned as a shortcut, and might be missing it just as much as I am.

I've been using the BlackBerry Passport since launch, and it's been really great to be back on familiar turf. The Samsung Galaxy S5 I've been using for the last six months or so feels cheap and plasticky by comparison. Unorthodox as the Passport may be, it's great to have a physical keyboard under my thumbs again. OS 10.3 is a refreshing visual overhaul and there are a handful of functional updates.

One of the most visible changes are the new triage icons available in the Hub, which allows for easy folder filing and deletion of messages. Being able to do this right after reading a message or plowing through the entire list are both nice options to have, but there's still a fundamental bit missing from my usual e-mail workflow. Anybody who used BlackBerry prior to OS 10 will be familiar with how the U key functioned as a shortcut, and might be missing it just as much as I am.

]]>Tue, 11 Nov 2014 21:37:41 +0000Simon Sage185969 at http://crackberry.comhttp://crackberry.com/missing-u-lament-shortcut-key#commentsShortcutMe on sale today only! - Get it for only $2.99http://crackberry.com/shortcutme-sale-today-only-get-it-only-299

If you’ve been reading CrackBerry enough you’ll know that we are no stranger to ShortcutMe by Fonware Ltd. The app gives you the ability to create even more shortcuts on your BlackBerry. No longer will you be limited to the number of shortcuts that RIM has built into the BlackBerry OS. The developers of ShortcutMe have just us let us know that they’ve temporarily dropped the price of ShortcutMe in celebration of it being featured on BlackBerry App World. If you’ve been feeling a little short handed (see what I did there?) and could use the ability to make your own quick keys to apps and fuctions on your BlackBerry, then I suggest you take advantage of this deal.

If you’ve been reading CrackBerry enough you’ll know that we are no stranger to ShortcutMe by Fonware Ltd. The app gives you the ability to create even more shortcuts on your BlackBerry. No longer will you be limited to the number of shortcuts that RIM has built into the BlackBerry OS. The developers of ShortcutMe have just us let us know that they’ve temporarily dropped the price of ShortcutMe in celebration of it being featured on BlackBerry App World. If you’ve been feeling a little short handed (see what I did there?) and could use the ability to make your own quick keys to apps and fuctions on your BlackBerry, then I suggest you take advantage of this deal.

The second concept demo from RIM's Sweden branch at Mobile World Congress 2012 is PitchRocket. This is both a PlayBook and smartphone app that help you quickly create visually-impressive presentations. Through the phone, you can create slide text and insert images, while the slide itself is dynamically created on the PlayBook based on whichever preset style you've selected. There would also be the possibility of user-created, and maybe even sellable presets to expand the core imagery.

While PitchRocket is certainly closer to the realm of reality than Confetti, it's easy to see these features folded into the BlackBerry Presenter and Slideshow to Go. The graphics are very snazzy, but I have a feeling that unless these are exportable into the PPT format, you might have some issues down the line if you need to share materials with anyone. As the name implies, I could see something like this getting a lot of use from hurried salespeople who get thrust into meetings at the last second.

PitchRocket is a neat concept, and not entirely in the realm of fanciful tech demos that never become a reality. Anyone interested?

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The second concept demo from RIM's Sweden branch at Mobile World Congress 2012 is PitchRocket. This is both a PlayBook and smartphone app that help you quickly create visually-impressive presentations. Through the phone, you can create slide text and insert images, while the slide itself is dynamically created on the PlayBook based on whichever preset style you've selected. There would also be the possibility of user-created, and maybe even sellable presets to expand the core imagery.

While PitchRocket is certainly closer to the realm of reality than Confetti, it's easy to see these features folded into the BlackBerry Presenter and Slideshow to Go. The graphics are very snazzy, but I have a feeling that unless these are exportable into the PPT format, you might have some issues down the line if you need to share materials with anyone. As the name implies, I could see something like this getting a lot of use from hurried salespeople who get thrust into meetings at the last second.

PitchRocket is a neat concept, and not entirely in the realm of fanciful tech demos that never become a reality. Anyone interested?

]]>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:42:29 +0000Simon Sage168118 at http://crackberry.comhttp://crackberry.com/pitchrocket-helps-you-make-quick-good-looking-presentations-fly#commentsQuickLaunch by Nikkisoft updated to v4.0 adding a ton of features and fixes - Get it on sale now!http://crackberry.com/quicklaunch-nikkisoft-updated-v40-adding-ton-features-and-fixes-get-it-sale-now

QuickLaunch by Nikkisoft was just updated bringing the app up to version 4.0 bringing with it various upgrades and some fixes including Universal Search integration, mobile hotspot and NFC toggle, shake launch, larger fonts, and a ton more.

QuickLaunch by Nikkisoft was just updated bringing the app up to version 4.0 bringing with it various upgrades and some fixes including Universal Search integration, mobile hotspot and NFC toggle, shake launch, larger fonts, and a ton more.

Development on applications for BlackBerry 6 seems to be a bit slow so far, but ToySoft has their first app finished, and available for download. ShortcutManager lets you add shortcuts directly to your homescreen (or any other folder), for items as email addresses, PIN, SMS, contacts, phone numbers, and websites. Simply choose your type of shortcut, add a name and description, set the destination of the shortcut, and save it to your homescreen. You can also set an icon for each shortcut you create, adding some nice personalization to your BlackBerry 6 device. ShortcutManager also features the backup and restore of your shortcuts, as well as the ability to even shortcut an entire message. Overall, ShortcutManager is a very nice application. It has really helped speed up my overall productivity on my 9800. You can pick it up on sale for $2.99 at the CrackBerry App Store. It does require the BlackBerry 6 OS.

Contest: We have 25 copies of ShortcutManager to give away. Just leave a comment on this post to enter. Contest ends this Sunday at Midnight PST. Please only leave one comment, multiple entries wont count.

Development on applications for BlackBerry 6 seems to be a bit slow so far, but ToySoft has their first app finished, and available for download. ShortcutManager lets you add shortcuts directly to your homescreen (or any other folder), for items as email addresses, PIN, SMS, contacts, phone numbers, and websites. Simply choose your type of shortcut, add a name and description, set the destination of the shortcut, and save it to your homescreen. You can also set an icon for each shortcut you create, adding some nice personalization to your BlackBerry 6 device. ShortcutManager also features the backup and restore of your shortcuts, as well as the ability to even shortcut an entire message. Overall, ShortcutManager is a very nice application. It has really helped speed up my overall productivity on my 9800. You can pick it up on sale for $2.99 at the CrackBerry App Store. It does require the BlackBerry 6 OS.

Contest: We have 25 copies of ShortcutManager to give away. Just leave a comment on this post to enter. Contest ends this Sunday at Midnight PST. Please only leave one comment, multiple entries wont count.

Review of Documents To Go for BlackBerry Smartphones

Most BlackBerry users are familiar with Documents to Go. Not necessarily because they downloaded it from the top 50 list on the CrackBerry App Store, but because it comes pre-installed on most users devices. But the version that comes pre-installed might be lacking for some of your day to day tasks. The ability to create new documents right from your BlackBerry, being able to edit existing documents or spell checking in word documents might be enough to make you want to upgrade. Having the ability to sort or update charts in your spreadsheets, or delete and insert slides in your presentations might also be appealing to you. If so, read on.

Review of Documents To Go for BlackBerry Smartphones

Most BlackBerry users are familiar with Documents to Go. Not necessarily because they downloaded it from the top 50 list on the CrackBerry App Store, but because it comes pre-installed on most users devices. But the version that comes pre-installed might be lacking for some of your day to day tasks. The ability to create new documents right from your BlackBerry, being able to edit existing documents or spell checking in word documents might be enough to make you want to upgrade. Having the ability to sort or update charts in your spreadsheets, or delete and insert slides in your presentations might also be appealing to you. If so, read on.

Review of Evernote Application for BlackBerry Smartphones

With the growing desire to capture information and access it later in a simple manner, a problem yet to be solved has come up: organization. Organizing our digital lives can be a tough procedure, but thankfully many services are available out there to help us take control of our data. Evernote is one of them, which makes note-taking simple and intuitive. Evernote allows you to create text notes, take snapshots, record audio notes and upload files. Once synchronized with the Evernote server, you may access your notes wherever you are and whenever you need them. With a Web interface and applications available for the PC and Mac as well as BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile and Palm webOS, Evernote has you always covered. But how well does the BlackBerry application perform? Read on to find out!

Review of Evernote Application for BlackBerry Smartphones

With the growing desire to capture information and access it later in a simple manner, a problem yet to be solved has come up: organization. Organizing our digital lives can be a tough procedure, but thankfully many services are available out there to help us take control of our data. Evernote is one of them, which makes note-taking simple and intuitive. Evernote allows you to create text notes, take snapshots, record audio notes and upload files. Once synchronized with the Evernote server, you may access your notes wherever you are and whenever you need them. With a Web interface and applications available for the PC and Mac as well as BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile and Palm webOS, Evernote has you always covered. But how well does the BlackBerry application perform? Read on to find out!

The native Tasks application on BlackBerry is great for keeping organized, but if you want something with a little more "juice", Lister may be just the thing. The free app lets you create and manage multiple lists for anything from to-do's to Christmas Lists to reminders. You can easily create a list, add due dates and reminders, and navigate with multiple hotkeys. With Lister you can also share items with friends and family, even if they don't have the application. If they are a Lister user however, the app will open up the shared list automatically. Overall a very cool app that can help you keep track and stay organized - so far its made a great shopping list for me. You can grab Lister totally free from the CrackBerry App Store. Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

The native Tasks application on BlackBerry is great for keeping organized, but if you want something with a little more "juice", Lister may be just the thing. The free app lets you create and manage multiple lists for anything from to-do's to Christmas Lists to reminders. You can easily create a list, add due dates and reminders, and navigate with multiple hotkeys. With Lister you can also share items with friends and family, even if they don't have the application. If they are a Lister user however, the app will open up the shared list automatically. Overall a very cool app that can help you keep track and stay organized - so far its made a great shopping list for me. You can grab Lister totally free from the CrackBerry App Store. Be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

]]>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:45:14 +0000Adam Zeis130293 at http://crackberry.comhttp://crackberry.com/create-and-manage-multiple-lists-lister-blackberry#commentsMerriam-Webster's Third New International Dictionary Updated - 10 Copies to be Won!http://crackberry.com/merriam-websters-third-new-international-dictionary-updated-10-copies-be-won

Paragon Software/Penreader has just released the Merriam-Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged app for BlackBerry smartphones. The app includes the same content as the famous paper dictionary, covering over 257,244 entries and 700,000 definitions, and provides fastest definition lookup on a mobile device. The application may be a bit pricy for some who can find alternative free methods, but for those who want instant results, the app is one of the top solutions out there. It is available for all devices running OS 4.2.1 and up with different pricing, depending on which version you buy.

Contest: We have 5 copies of Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, and 5 copies of the Collegiate version to give away. Just leave a comment on this post to enter. Contest ends this Sunday at Midnight PST. Please only leave one comment, multiple entries wont count.

Paragon Software/Penreader has just released the Merriam-Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged app for BlackBerry smartphones. The app includes the same content as the famous paper dictionary, covering over 257,244 entries and 700,000 definitions, and provides fastest definition lookup on a mobile device. The application may be a bit pricy for some who can find alternative free methods, but for those who want instant results, the app is one of the top solutions out there. It is available for all devices running OS 4.2.1 and up with different pricing, depending on which version you buy.

Contest: We have 5 copies of Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, and 5 copies of the Collegiate version to give away. Just leave a comment on this post to enter. Contest ends this Sunday at Midnight PST. Please only leave one comment, multiple entries wont count.

My Card. Your Card. His Card. Her Card. Ouch! Paper cut. With business cards being passed around like playing cards, it’s difficult to keep them organized. Sure it’s a quick way to share your information, but not everyone likes to carry them around. I’ve seen people who have literally gathered binders that, instead of displaying baseball cards, display business cards. I wondered if they had autographed ones in a special case. When it comes to that level of business cards, it becomes overwhelming and accessibility seems to disappear. A time consuming, thumb blistering alternative would be to input them into your native address book. A few months ago, we looked at a mobile business card application called DUB. While it was thoroughly impressive, one problem had come to mind - Not everyone uses it.

Before your Rolodex decides to roll away, you should take a look at Business Card Reader. As the name suggests, this application enables users to read and decipher images of business cards, then sent directly to your BlackBerry address book. Now you can spend less time entering in contacts and spend more time making contact! If you are as intrigued about its accuracy as I was, I suggest you read on.

My Card. Your Card. His Card. Her Card. Ouch! Paper cut. With business cards being passed around like playing cards, it’s difficult to keep them organized. Sure it’s a quick way to share your information, but not everyone likes to carry them around. I’ve seen people who have literally gathered binders that, instead of displaying baseball cards, display business cards. I wondered if they had autographed ones in a special case. When it comes to that level of business cards, it becomes overwhelming and accessibility seems to disappear. A time consuming, thumb blistering alternative would be to input them into your native address book. A few months ago, we looked at a mobile business card application called DUB. While it was thoroughly impressive, one problem had come to mind - Not everyone uses it.

Before your Rolodex decides to roll away, you should take a look at Business Card Reader. As the name suggests, this application enables users to read and decipher images of business cards, then sent directly to your BlackBerry address book. Now you can spend less time entering in contacts and spend more time making contact! If you are as intrigued about its accuracy as I was, I suggest you read on.

Contest details at the end of this article.... keep reading, and good luck!

Pssst! Hey, can you keep a secret? Don’t tell Kevin, but I kind of didn’t start this review quite when I was supposed to. Okay, well actually, I left it until the last minute. I know I know, I shouldn’t have, but you know how things come up. Okay, well actually, nothing came up, but I did think about doing it earlier. Yeah, I had it planned out and everything. Okay, well actually…

At some point (or points) in our lives, there’s a few things that need to be done, that we dawdle at. We scramble around at the last second trying to complete the task, or we come up with some sort of excuse. Whether it be the imaginary dog eating homework, the over-exaggerated traffic jam or the timely computer crash. It’s time to stop wasting time and start making time. Stop procrastinating and start producing. Just10Minutes is designed to ensure your projects are completed, by setting work and break intervals until the task is done. We all know you’re checking out the CrackBerry blogs when you are supposed to be working anyway (caught you!), so why not check out Just10Minutes? Oh and Kevin? I was just kidding about dragging my feet, honest!

Contest details at the end of this article.... keep reading, and good luck!

Pssst! Hey, can you keep a secret? Don’t tell Kevin, but I kind of didn’t start this review quite when I was supposed to. Okay, well actually, I left it until the last minute. I know I know, I shouldn’t have, but you know how things come up. Okay, well actually, nothing came up, but I did think about doing it earlier. Yeah, I had it planned out and everything. Okay, well actually…

At some point (or points) in our lives, there’s a few things that need to be done, that we dawdle at. We scramble around at the last second trying to complete the task, or we come up with some sort of excuse. Whether it be the imaginary dog eating homework, the over-exaggerated traffic jam or the timely computer crash. It’s time to stop wasting time and start making time. Stop procrastinating and start producing. Just10Minutes is designed to ensure your projects are completed, by setting work and break intervals until the task is done. We all know you’re checking out the CrackBerry blogs when you are supposed to be working anyway (caught you!), so why not check out Just10Minutes? Oh and Kevin? I was just kidding about dragging my feet, honest!

The long awaited Kindle app for BlackBerry is finally here. While not the biggest screen to read on, most of us carry our BlackBerry everywhere we go, so being able to read a book at any given moment is definitely welcome. The app has a fair amount of features (it could still use a few more options) and everything loads super fast. You can store and read Kindle books, as well as browse and purchase from the huge selection in the Kindle Store. Check out the video above for a look at the app, and head to amazon.com/kindlebb to download it free.

The long awaited Kindle app for BlackBerry is finally here. While not the biggest screen to read on, most of us carry our BlackBerry everywhere we go, so being able to read a book at any given moment is definitely welcome. The app has a fair amount of features (it could still use a few more options) and everything loads super fast. You can store and read Kindle books, as well as browse and purchase from the huge selection in the Kindle Store. Check out the video above for a look at the app, and head to amazon.com/kindlebb to download it free.

Freshbooks. If you haven’t heard of Freshbooks before, it’s known as “The Leader of Online Invoicing”. It’s an extremely beneficial business tool, especially for those who are looking for any type of outside sales or field service automation. Unfortunately, not everyone is on board with this type of service and some are still using manual invoices, stacks of paper and other handwritten forms that could become a headache for any accounting department. It’s also a valued option for those who wish to keep track of their team, manage contractors, estimates and, of course, their clients. Now while Freshbooks can be accessed from your BlackBerry smartphone, it isn’t properly formatted for optimal viewing. With those out in the world wanting to carry increasingly smaller devices, they want to be able to only use their smartphones. Freshbooks does have an application that’s currently in beta; I believe it’s waiting for approval for entry into the App World to be precise. I’ll talk about that app in the near future. Right now we’re going to have a look at another option called ReportAway! for Freshbooks, not to be confused with the standard addition of ReportAway! for Quickbooks.

The ReportAway! for Freshbooks application will provide you with the benefits of Freshbooks, without tying you to a computer. Read on for more.

Freshbooks. If you haven’t heard of Freshbooks before, it’s known as “The Leader of Online Invoicing”. It’s an extremely beneficial business tool, especially for those who are looking for any type of outside sales or field service automation. Unfortunately, not everyone is on board with this type of service and some are still using manual invoices, stacks of paper and other handwritten forms that could become a headache for any accounting department. It’s also a valued option for those who wish to keep track of their team, manage contractors, estimates and, of course, their clients. Now while Freshbooks can be accessed from your BlackBerry smartphone, it isn’t properly formatted for optimal viewing. With those out in the world wanting to carry increasingly smaller devices, they want to be able to only use their smartphones. Freshbooks does have an application that’s currently in beta; I believe it’s waiting for approval for entry into the App World to be precise. I’ll talk about that app in the near future. Right now we’re going to have a look at another option called ReportAway! for Freshbooks, not to be confused with the standard addition of ReportAway! for Quickbooks.

The ReportAway! for Freshbooks application will provide you with the benefits of Freshbooks, without tying you to a computer. Read on for more.

Having been a Pageonce user since their initial beta releases, I have to say, while this was a long time coming I'm sure as heck happy to see it. Pageonce has released version 2.5 of their Personal Assitant application and with this release they have indeed added push notifications to the mix.

Now as your customized accounts have changes happen, you are instantly notified of what went on. Anything from flight changes, bills that arrive or even credit card transactions. It all is captured for you and delivered to your device so that you can quickly and accurately keep track of the things that are important to you. The basic Personal Assistant is made available for free while premium services with added features are available for only $6.99. Both of which offer the email alert system.

Having been a Pageonce user since their initial beta releases, I have to say, while this was a long time coming I'm sure as heck happy to see it. Pageonce has released version 2.5 of their Personal Assitant application and with this release they have indeed added push notifications to the mix.

Now as your customized accounts have changes happen, you are instantly notified of what went on. Anything from flight changes, bills that arrive or even credit card transactions. It all is captured for you and delivered to your device so that you can quickly and accurately keep track of the things that are important to you. The basic Personal Assistant is made available for free while premium services with added features are available for only $6.99. Both of which offer the email alert system.

Your BlackBerry provides rapid access to almost anything you can think of. Well for some people, that isn’t good enough! They demand instant access; they want knowledge and they want it now. Now, now, NOW! If you’re picturing adults throwing fits right about now, then we are on the same wavelength. That sort of behavior is kind of immature, if you ask me. On the other hand, there are benefits to being able to look at various types of information at a glance; to see if there is anything important. Yeah, having a grasp of your day from a momentary view of your BlackBerry is a good thing. That’s the kind of access I need - everything available to me now. Now, now, NOW!

Before I’m put in a time out, I wanted to have a look through an application called Pocketday. As you can probably tell from my so-called rant, Pocketday provides on-demand access to your content. For those who can’t fight the urge to look at their BlackBerrys, the application will at least keep your potentially inappropriate status check to a minimum. There are two versions of Pocketday available; Professional and Personal. Let’s see which one works best for you.

Your BlackBerry provides rapid access to almost anything you can think of. Well for some people, that isn’t good enough! They demand instant access; they want knowledge and they want it now. Now, now, NOW! If you’re picturing adults throwing fits right about now, then we are on the same wavelength. That sort of behavior is kind of immature, if you ask me. On the other hand, there are benefits to being able to look at various types of information at a glance; to see if there is anything important. Yeah, having a grasp of your day from a momentary view of your BlackBerry is a good thing. That’s the kind of access I need - everything available to me now. Now, now, NOW!

Before I’m put in a time out, I wanted to have a look through an application called Pocketday. As you can probably tell from my so-called rant, Pocketday provides on-demand access to your content. For those who can’t fight the urge to look at their BlackBerrys, the application will at least keep your potentially inappropriate status check to a minimum. There are two versions of Pocketday available; Professional and Personal. Let’s see which one works best for you.

There's nothing like discovering you have a "compromised" card while in line, trying to purchase groceries or gifts. It's both embarrassing and worrisome. The mind may wander, as you begin to wonder what else has been compromised. Not everyone can remember dozens of passwords; some may stick to less than half a dozen. Think about it: you have email accounts, work logins, multiple social network accounts, banking information, wireless accounts, even your CrackBerry account! Perhaps you, yes you, use a single password, the ONE password...to rule them all! Um, actually, that's not the best idea. What you need is a powerful and organized way to manage everything that is for your eyes only.

Marc from Ascendo Inc has been in contact, letting me know about the updates made a little while ago to their password manager, DataVault. You may recognize the name from a review I did back in 2008. To meet with the demand of the customer, Ascendo Inc has worked quite hard to enhance upon an already impressive password manager. That being said, let's take a look what the newest version of Ascendo DataVault has to offer.

There's nothing like discovering you have a "compromised" card while in line, trying to purchase groceries or gifts. It's both embarrassing and worrisome. The mind may wander, as you begin to wonder what else has been compromised. Not everyone can remember dozens of passwords; some may stick to less than half a dozen. Think about it: you have email accounts, work logins, multiple social network accounts, banking information, wireless accounts, even your CrackBerry account! Perhaps you, yes you, use a single password, the ONE password...to rule them all! Um, actually, that's not the best idea. What you need is a powerful and organized way to manage everything that is for your eyes only.

Marc from Ascendo Inc has been in contact, letting me know about the updates made a little while ago to their password manager, DataVault. You may recognize the name from a review I did back in 2008. To meet with the demand of the customer, Ascendo Inc has worked quite hard to enhance upon an already impressive password manager. That being said, let's take a look what the newest version of Ascendo DataVault has to offer.

Babies and BlackBerrys: two of the most precious things in the world. We joke about our addiction to our BlackBerrys; I can admit that changing batteries is far less hazardous than changing diapers. Hopefully we all know what is truly important (for those still contemplating, the answer is children). If you think about it, there are a few similarities between babies and BlackBerrys. Both are carried with caution, both are adorned with accessories, both draw attention and both consistently amaze you in new ways. If something doesn’t agree with them, you do everything in your power to console them. But what if you could use one to help the other?

I’m not talking about having your baby fix your BlackBerry. You’ll probably just end up with physical and drool/liquid damage. I’m talking about an application called Woomby. Your BlackBerry is turned into the ultimate baby buddy. From entertaining music and videos to soothing lights, your bundle of joy will get some much needed TLC from your BlackBerry. So instead of vying for your attention, you’ll be vying to capture the attention of both your baby and your BlackBerry. We cannot be held responsible for the impending “Mine! Mine!” argument you will have. Read on for more.

Babies and BlackBerrys: two of the most precious things in the world. We joke about our addiction to our BlackBerrys; I can admit that changing batteries is far less hazardous than changing diapers. Hopefully we all know what is truly important (for those still contemplating, the answer is children). If you think about it, there are a few similarities between babies and BlackBerrys. Both are carried with caution, both are adorned with accessories, both draw attention and both consistently amaze you in new ways. If something doesn’t agree with them, you do everything in your power to console them. But what if you could use one to help the other?

I’m not talking about having your baby fix your BlackBerry. You’ll probably just end up with physical and drool/liquid damage. I’m talking about an application called Woomby. Your BlackBerry is turned into the ultimate baby buddy. From entertaining music and videos to soothing lights, your bundle of joy will get some much needed TLC from your BlackBerry. So instead of vying for your attention, you’ll be vying to capture the attention of both your baby and your BlackBerry. We cannot be held responsible for the impending “Mine! Mine!” argument you will have. Read on for more.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to rely on my BlackBerrys memo pad application. Well maybe I could, but that’s beside the point. It’s always there to help you jot quick, yet important, information down and offers easy accessibility. It sure beats scrounging for scraps of paper, or even an actual memo pad to write on. I also pity the person who has to decipher my handwriting (I’m sure my signature has been mistaken for a prescription on many occasions). Despite it’s usefulness for capturing info on the go, its functionality is somewhat limited. As much as we love our BlackBerrys, we may find ourselves saying “Wouldn’t it be great if *insert application name* could do…” at times.

ActionPad is a beefier, meatier version of your native MemoPad. In other words, it serves up the functionality of MemoPad, with a side dish of features. These features include: hot keys, categories, desktop synchronization and memo encryption. Let’s see you do that with a pad of yellow sticky paper. Read on for more.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to rely on my BlackBerrys memo pad application. Well maybe I could, but that’s beside the point. It’s always there to help you jot quick, yet important, information down and offers easy accessibility. It sure beats scrounging for scraps of paper, or even an actual memo pad to write on. I also pity the person who has to decipher my handwriting (I’m sure my signature has been mistaken for a prescription on many occasions). Despite it’s usefulness for capturing info on the go, its functionality is somewhat limited. As much as we love our BlackBerrys, we may find ourselves saying “Wouldn’t it be great if *insert application name* could do…” at times.

ActionPad is a beefier, meatier version of your native MemoPad. In other words, it serves up the functionality of MemoPad, with a side dish of features. These features include: hot keys, categories, desktop synchronization and memo encryption. Let’s see you do that with a pad of yellow sticky paper. Read on for more.

Oh precious notepad, what would I ever do without you? Well, I’d probably forget a substantial amount more than I already do. Some people are blessed with a sponge for a brain; they’re able to absorb and retain information quickly and easily. Then there are others like myself, who wish they could wring out those gifted sponges in order to mop up the knowledge and keep it in a bucket for future reference. This method is not only inefficient, but it’s also gruesome. Your BlackBerry smartphone, as you already know, has a note pad and task application under its hood. Keeping this in mind, there are also a number of applications you can download to help keep you on top of important dates, projects or whatever you struggle with. One of these applications you can turn to is BugMe!

BugMe! is part notepad, part task manager, part alarm and part nag. Together, these many parts make up an application that allows you to create reminder notes in a cinch. With BugMe!, you will find that you will be creating note and reminders more quickly and easily. Now instead of making a note to check out the review, why not just read it now?

Oh precious notepad, what would I ever do without you? Well, I’d probably forget a substantial amount more than I already do. Some people are blessed with a sponge for a brain; they’re able to absorb and retain information quickly and easily. Then there are others like myself, who wish they could wring out those gifted sponges in order to mop up the knowledge and keep it in a bucket for future reference. This method is not only inefficient, but it’s also gruesome. Your BlackBerry smartphone, as you already know, has a note pad and task application under its hood. Keeping this in mind, there are also a number of applications you can download to help keep you on top of important dates, projects or whatever you struggle with. One of these applications you can turn to is BugMe!

BugMe! is part notepad, part task manager, part alarm and part nag. Together, these many parts make up an application that allows you to create reminder notes in a cinch. With BugMe!, you will find that you will be creating note and reminders more quickly and easily. Now instead of making a note to check out the review, why not just read it now?

How often do you make notes throughout the day? Quite a bit, I would imagine. There’s always something that catches our eyes, even for a second or two. Those that are note-worthy, must be written down before you forget. I know I would. Can you count how many times you said “Where did we find those…” or “What was the name of that place again?” My BlackBerry's note pad has dozens upon dozens of notes that I’ve quickly typed out. I would typically capture the name and basic details, sometimes leaving out location and such. This isn’t a big deal for places you’re familiar with, but what about that small exotic restaurant or boutique you happened to stumble across? Sometimes you drive by a sign that grabs your attention. Even though you try to remember to check it out, you forget where it was…or what it was.

By jogging your memory, DulyNoted will be a string on your finger. Well, a string as in an application…and finger as in your BlackBerry. With DulyNoted, you can create notes that are geotagged. Now you can see where you were when an important note/reminder was made. Travel back there with certainty! Let’s have a closer gander at DulyNoted.

How often do you make notes throughout the day? Quite a bit, I would imagine. There’s always something that catches our eyes, even for a second or two. Those that are note-worthy, must be written down before you forget. I know I would. Can you count how many times you said “Where did we find those…” or “What was the name of that place again?” My BlackBerry's note pad has dozens upon dozens of notes that I’ve quickly typed out. I would typically capture the name and basic details, sometimes leaving out location and such. This isn’t a big deal for places you’re familiar with, but what about that small exotic restaurant or boutique you happened to stumble across? Sometimes you drive by a sign that grabs your attention. Even though you try to remember to check it out, you forget where it was…or what it was.

By jogging your memory, DulyNoted will be a string on your finger. Well, a string as in an application…and finger as in your BlackBerry. With DulyNoted, you can create notes that are geotagged. Now you can see where you were when an important note/reminder was made. Travel back there with certainty! Let’s have a closer gander at DulyNoted.

Have you ever actually sat down and looked at your Address Book on your BlackBerry smartphone? I mean “really” sort through it. I bet that there are a good number of contacts that you don’t even need. When was the last time that you talked to so – and – so? You may have some of those contacts; the type that you quickly throw into your address book. They are saved, but forgotten for many reasons; it may be because you think you may need to reach them at some point in time, or you make brief contact and want to talk at a more convenient time. Whatever the reason is, these lost souls occupy your address book and continue to grow. At this point you either keep them or delete them. I try to keep my address book trimmed down, but I always find a stray contact or two that have snuck in.

A while ago, Bla1ze turned my attention to an impressive Address Book alternative that helps you to see who you have talked to, what you’ve said, how often you want to talk and more. This application is called Sensobi Contacts. Rather than trying to remember when you’ve talked to this person last, let Sensobi Contacts fill you in. Lets see Sensobi Contacts in action!

Have you ever actually sat down and looked at your Address Book on your BlackBerry smartphone? I mean “really” sort through it. I bet that there are a good number of contacts that you don’t even need. When was the last time that you talked to so – and – so? You may have some of those contacts; the type that you quickly throw into your address book. They are saved, but forgotten for many reasons; it may be because you think you may need to reach them at some point in time, or you make brief contact and want to talk at a more convenient time. Whatever the reason is, these lost souls occupy your address book and continue to grow. At this point you either keep them or delete them. I try to keep my address book trimmed down, but I always find a stray contact or two that have snuck in.

A while ago, Bla1ze turned my attention to an impressive Address Book alternative that helps you to see who you have talked to, what you’ve said, how often you want to talk and more. This application is called Sensobi Contacts. Rather than trying to remember when you’ve talked to this person last, let Sensobi Contacts fill you in. Lets see Sensobi Contacts in action!

Guess what’s just around the corner? Lunch boxes polished, stationary warmed up, backpacks adjusted - it’s almost time for school! Some anticipate the ring of the school bell, others dread it. I chuckle every time I see a Staples commercial playing ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year.’ We’re not there yet, but in a couple of years, our little guy will be joining the ranks. Whether you want to admit it or not, there’s always a sense of excitement around the issue, even in the smallest amount. Be it a new year, new school or a new level of education, your mind races with new possibilities, as well as new worries.

Besides the standard school supply purchases, perhaps a BlackBerry Smartphone has found its way to you. If you haven’t heard already, there are a vast number of applications available to you. After gathering some well thought out opinions, I’ve come up with the main concerns students may face, especially those new to College or University. Based on that, I’ve also picked some applications and solutions that will help you deal with said concerns. Make sure you take notes; who knows if there will be a test on this.

Guess what’s just around the corner? Lunch boxes polished, stationary warmed up, backpacks adjusted - it’s almost time for school! Some anticipate the ring of the school bell, others dread it. I chuckle every time I see a Staples commercial playing ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year.’ We’re not there yet, but in a couple of years, our little guy will be joining the ranks. Whether you want to admit it or not, there’s always a sense of excitement around the issue, even in the smallest amount. Be it a new year, new school or a new level of education, your mind races with new possibilities, as well as new worries.

Besides the standard school supply purchases, perhaps a BlackBerry Smartphone has found its way to you. If you haven’t heard already, there are a vast number of applications available to you. After gathering some well thought out opinions, I’ve come up with the main concerns students may face, especially those new to College or University. Based on that, I’ve also picked some applications and solutions that will help you deal with said concerns. Make sure you take notes; who knows if there will be a test on this.

Have you ever made a grocery list only to forget it at home? I know I have plenty of times. Enter HoneyDew: HoneyDew is a synchronized todo and task list that will get rid of wasting paper. I think it's pretty common for must of us when its time to go grocery shoping or need to remember to do things around the house we write them down on a piece of paper so we don't forget. Well something always happens and the paper is thrown away or lost and we have to start a new one. The BlackBerrys have something that can fix that already in the Task or Memo app. That really only solves one side of the issue, what if after making a big grocery list I wanna share it with my Wife? I then have to give her my BlackBerry and let her manually copy into her BlackBerry, yuck, what a pain!

Well lucky for us the great people over at VersatileMonkey (the creators of the popular PodTrapper)has solved this issue. Once you have HoneyDew installed on your berry, open HoneyDew up and start adding things to a grocery list or a todo list.

Have you ever made a grocery list only to forget it at home? I know I have plenty of times. Enter HoneyDew: HoneyDew is a synchronized todo and task list that will get rid of wasting paper. I think it's pretty common for must of us when its time to go grocery shoping or need to remember to do things around the house we write them down on a piece of paper so we don't forget. Well something always happens and the paper is thrown away or lost and we have to start a new one. The BlackBerrys have something that can fix that already in the Task or Memo app. That really only solves one side of the issue, what if after making a big grocery list I wanna share it with my Wife? I then have to give her my BlackBerry and let her manually copy into her BlackBerry, yuck, what a pain!

Well lucky for us the great people over at VersatileMonkey (the creators of the popular PodTrapper)has solved this issue. Once you have HoneyDew installed on your berry, open HoneyDew up and start adding things to a grocery list or a todo list.

Throughout my professional career, I’ve had the opportunity to try on different hats. Within each experience, I’ve been able to adopt new practices into my own skill set and vice versa. When I was involved in corporate sales, I was initially taught three very important things that have stuck with me over the years:

1. Know your client; maintain a personal rapport.
2. Keep records of everything; you never know when you need them.
3. Don’t get mad at me if you can’t do your job.

Whether in sales, marketing, customer care, or any job that requires dealing directly with clients, detailed and easy to access records is crucial. Accounts, deals or you own job may depend upon your dependability. I’ve used a few tools in the past to help me keep all of this information separate and accessible, but never wielded a solution using my BlackBerry smartphone…until now. Maximizer Software has a wide array of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Solutions available, which has been around for 20 years. I had the fortune to sit down and discuss their BlackBerry smartphone offerings and the benefits. With access to customer cases, opportunities, dash boards, and other information (without having to store information on your device) you could see your efficiency and profitability grow. Read on for more!

Throughout my professional career, I’ve had the opportunity to try on different hats. Within each experience, I’ve been able to adopt new practices into my own skill set and vice versa. When I was involved in corporate sales, I was initially taught three very important things that have stuck with me over the years:

1. Know your client; maintain a personal rapport.
2. Keep records of everything; you never know when you need them.
3. Don’t get mad at me if you can’t do your job.

Whether in sales, marketing, customer care, or any job that requires dealing directly with clients, detailed and easy to access records is crucial. Accounts, deals or you own job may depend upon your dependability. I’ve used a few tools in the past to help me keep all of this information separate and accessible, but never wielded a solution using my BlackBerry smartphone…until now. Maximizer Software has a wide array of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Solutions available, which has been around for 20 years. I had the fortune to sit down and discuss their BlackBerry smartphone offerings and the benefits. With access to customer cases, opportunities, dash boards, and other information (without having to store information on your device) you could see your efficiency and profitability grow. Read on for more!

You’d think that, with a BlackBerry smartphone at the ready, I’d have no problem getting back to people quickly and efficiently. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. If I had a loonie every time my wife asked me “Have you gotten a hold of so – and – so yet?” I would probably have enough money to get the entire world out of the red. For those who have been directly affected by this issue, I am truly sorry. I’m not sure what it is; perhaps I’m too busy and tend to forget. I do tend to start thinking of other projects when already working on one, and then move on. Maybe I’m easily distracted by the slightest- ooooo….shiny…

Luckily, being an avid BlackBerry abuser, there’s always an application or two out there that can help you out in almost every situation (who needs to fend for themselves anyway?!). In this case, I’m turning to LaterDude and LaterDude Pro to lend a hand. They offer to streamline the process of creating reminders, making it faster than doing it using your calendar or tasks applications. It’s either that, or stick Post-it notes on my BlackBerry’s screen.

You’d think that, with a BlackBerry smartphone at the ready, I’d have no problem getting back to people quickly and efficiently. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. If I had a loonie every time my wife asked me “Have you gotten a hold of so – and – so yet?” I would probably have enough money to get the entire world out of the red. For those who have been directly affected by this issue, I am truly sorry. I’m not sure what it is; perhaps I’m too busy and tend to forget. I do tend to start thinking of other projects when already working on one, and then move on. Maybe I’m easily distracted by the slightest- ooooo….shiny…

Luckily, being an avid BlackBerry abuser, there’s always an application or two out there that can help you out in almost every situation (who needs to fend for themselves anyway?!). In this case, I’m turning to LaterDude and LaterDude Pro to lend a hand. They offer to streamline the process of creating reminders, making it faster than doing it using your calendar or tasks applications. It’s either that, or stick Post-it notes on my BlackBerry’s screen.

Hello friends, how does today find you? Are you having a good day? Do you feel calm, focused and at peace? No? Well, what's the matter with you?! ...Sorry. Sometimes, we pick up and embrace new technology designed to make our lives easier, but when used improperly, the result may be the exact opposite. With great technology, comes great responsibility (not the original quote, but lets move on). And with that added responsibility, added stress typically follows. Now that you have greater connectivity in your hands, your company, family and friends have an even greater connection to you. You may find yourself busier than ever, forgetting to do the little things you used to along the way. Sure, you could set up reminders in your Calendar, but where's the fun in that? We are BlackBerry users gosh darn it!

Adding a softer side to keeping you on the ball, ZenMinder is the newest reminder application available for your BlackBerry smartphone. With ZenMinder, you can create and manage multiple reminders to gently guide you through your day. By utilizing this application, your responses to reminders should go from "Okay...OKAY!!" to "Ah...yes....thank you for reminding me..." Now sit down near a babbling brook, and throw on some Yanni. I'd ask you to close your eyes and relax, but then you wouldn't be able to read the review!

Hello friends, how does today find you? Are you having a good day? Do you feel calm, focused and at peace? No? Well, what's the matter with you?! ...Sorry. Sometimes, we pick up and embrace new technology designed to make our lives easier, but when used improperly, the result may be the exact opposite. With great technology, comes great responsibility (not the original quote, but lets move on). And with that added responsibility, added stress typically follows. Now that you have greater connectivity in your hands, your company, family and friends have an even greater connection to you. You may find yourself busier than ever, forgetting to do the little things you used to along the way. Sure, you could set up reminders in your Calendar, but where's the fun in that? We are BlackBerry users gosh darn it!

Adding a softer side to keeping you on the ball, ZenMinder is the newest reminder application available for your BlackBerry smartphone. With ZenMinder, you can create and manage multiple reminders to gently guide you through your day. By utilizing this application, your responses to reminders should go from "Okay...OKAY!!" to "Ah...yes....thank you for reminding me..." Now sit down near a babbling brook, and throw on some Yanni. I'd ask you to close your eyes and relax, but then you wouldn't be able to read the review!

While I was on my vacation, I had time to reflect upon various ways I could make my schedule a little easier to manage. As the saying goes, there is a time and place for everything. Unfortunately, your own timing may be a little off. Even with the uber powerful BlackBerry smartphone available to us, our sometimes busy lives may cause some hiccups in our schedules. There have been times when I get home from work exhausted and collapse on the couch, only to have to get up seconds later because I forgot to do something. I look towards my BlackBerry and say "Can't you just do it for me?"

I set my sights on BB:Robot Scheduler for a solution. Since the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, I can honestly say that pretty much anything with robot in its name immediately caught my attention. BB:Robot Scheduler seemed to be a pretty simple application but, like Transformers, there's more than meets the eye. You can use the application to create schedules for almost everything you do with your BlackBerry. With audio recordings, sharing GPS locations, messages, calls, etc, ready to be scheduled, you can take a breather and focus on your next vacation plans. Read on for more.

While I was on my vacation, I had time to reflect upon various ways I could make my schedule a little easier to manage. As the saying goes, there is a time and place for everything. Unfortunately, your own timing may be a little off. Even with the uber powerful BlackBerry smartphone available to us, our sometimes busy lives may cause some hiccups in our schedules. There have been times when I get home from work exhausted and collapse on the couch, only to have to get up seconds later because I forgot to do something. I look towards my BlackBerry and say "Can't you just do it for me?"

I set my sights on BB:Robot Scheduler for a solution. Since the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, I can honestly say that pretty much anything with robot in its name immediately caught my attention. BB:Robot Scheduler seemed to be a pretty simple application but, like Transformers, there's more than meets the eye. You can use the application to create schedules for almost everything you do with your BlackBerry. With audio recordings, sharing GPS locations, messages, calls, etc, ready to be scheduled, you can take a breather and focus on your next vacation plans. Read on for more.

Having a look at my monthly wireless phone bill, I see that I don't really use much of my voice plan. I mostly use my BlackBerry smartphone for email, pin and SMS messages, but my voice plan is a fantastic deal that I don't want to give up. Perhaps, in the back of my head, I have a tiny voice telling me to watch my usage. I then tell it that we don't have anything to worry about, so relax. Then a co-worker walks by, and I overhear something about having me committed for talking to myself. Before they think any further about taking me away, I should find a way to reassure that little voice by keeping track of my usage.

To answer the call, PhoneLog was released a short while back. This little application offers the power to keep record of your completed calls, missed calls and your SMS history. With these records you are now free to clear your call history, clear your messages and stop waiting for your wireless bill to check your usage. Uh-oh, some men in white coats are coming, let have a quick look before it's too late.

Having a look at my monthly wireless phone bill, I see that I don't really use much of my voice plan. I mostly use my BlackBerry smartphone for email, pin and SMS messages, but my voice plan is a fantastic deal that I don't want to give up. Perhaps, in the back of my head, I have a tiny voice telling me to watch my usage. I then tell it that we don't have anything to worry about, so relax. Then a co-worker walks by, and I overhear something about having me committed for talking to myself. Before they think any further about taking me away, I should find a way to reassure that little voice by keeping track of my usage.

To answer the call, PhoneLog was released a short while back. This little application offers the power to keep record of your completed calls, missed calls and your SMS history. With these records you are now free to clear your call history, clear your messages and stop waiting for your wireless bill to check your usage. Uh-oh, some men in white coats are coming, let have a quick look before it's too late.

Just when you thought I was finished showing you shortcut apps such as; IntelliBerry, BBSmart ShortCuts and QuickLaunch, I've got one more to share with you. It's only fair, and hopefully after this read, you can make an educated decision as to which one will work for you. This time around we're going to take a look at ShortcutMe, the self proclaimed "Fastest BlackBerry Shortcut Application."

As with other shortcut applications, it lets you assign several applications to one or both of your convenience keys or search for apps from its main screen. One of the major differences is the number of clicks on a convenience key to determine which application you want to access! No need to scroll.

Those who find that they need quick access to multiple applications will truly appreciate the solutions found in ShortcutMe or similar products. Before trying out such applications, I always thought that two convenience keys were enough; apparently I was wrong, especially when I'm continually dealing with so many applications at once. I'm actually surprised that my Bold hasn't started to smoke yet. Let's see how ShortcutMe can keep up with this Abuser.

Just when you thought I was finished showing you shortcut apps such as; IntelliBerry, BBSmart ShortCuts and QuickLaunch, I've got one more to share with you. It's only fair, and hopefully after this read, you can make an educated decision as to which one will work for you. This time around we're going to take a look at ShortcutMe, the self proclaimed "Fastest BlackBerry Shortcut Application."

As with other shortcut applications, it lets you assign several applications to one or both of your convenience keys or search for apps from its main screen. One of the major differences is the number of clicks on a convenience key to determine which application you want to access! No need to scroll.

Those who find that they need quick access to multiple applications will truly appreciate the solutions found in ShortcutMe or similar products. Before trying out such applications, I always thought that two convenience keys were enough; apparently I was wrong, especially when I'm continually dealing with so many applications at once. I'm actually surprised that my Bold hasn't started to smoke yet. Let's see how ShortcutMe can keep up with this Abuser.

I have been using RDM+ for a while now and as a whole, I'm pleased with this application. It does exactly what it claims to be able to do and even more. The UI is really nice when it comes to ease of use and over time I have found more and more uses for RDM+ on a daily basis. Be sure to read on for a more in-depth look.

I have been using RDM+ for a while now and as a whole, I'm pleased with this application. It does exactly what it claims to be able to do and even more. The UI is really nice when it comes to ease of use and over time I have found more and more uses for RDM+ on a daily basis. Be sure to read on for a more in-depth look.